Transcript

One guy said this about his employment. My first job was working in an orange juice factory, but I got canned. I couldn’t concentrate. Next, I tried working in a muffler factory but that was too exhausting.

I managed to get a good job working for a pool maintenance company, but the work there was just too draining. I attempted to be a deli worker, but any way I sliced it, I couldn’t cut the mustard. Then I tried working at a mirror factory because I could really see myself working there, but that image was shattered when I hit a wall.

My last job was working at Starbucks, but I had to quit because it was always the same old grind. So I retired and found that I’m perfect for the job!

Titus was a man who had many jobs and was given different tasks to do by the apostle Paul. He was a source of comfort to Paul, and Paul called him my partner and fellowhelper. In this episode, we’ll look at Paul’s co-worker and trusted associate, Titus.

Galatians 2:1-3: “Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.

“And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain. But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.”

Titus is never mentioned in the Book of Acts. Everything we learn about Titus, we learn from Paul’s epistles. Paul mentions him by name 12 times in his letters: 8 times in 2 Corinthians, 2 times in Galatians, 1 time in Titus, and once in 2 Timothy.

And of course, we also have the entire letter written to this co-worker of Paul as well.
Titus’s name means “honorable.” In Galatians 2:3, Paul wrote, “But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek…” Thus, we learn that Titus was a Gentile, a full-blooded Greek.

Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles, and Titus was a Gentile. As a result of Paul’s ministry to the nations, he had led Titus to Christ. We do not know where Titus was born or raised, nor do we know where he was living when Paul met him.

But Paul called him “mine own son” in Titus 1:4, which teaches us that Paul led him to the Lord and was his spiritual father in the faith.

Galatians, I believe, is the first of Paul’s letters, written around AD 49 not long after Paul’s first missionary journey and the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15.

Titus is then mentioned in Galatians 2 as having gone with Paul to Jerusalem, 14 years after Paul’s conversion, to defend Gentile liberty from the law.

So Titus was saved during the earlier part of Paul’s ministry among the Gentiles. And it seems probable that Paul met Titus and led him to Christ during his first apostolic journey.

In Galatians 2 we learn that Paul met with the leaders of the Jerusalem church to discuss Gentile salvation and Paul’s ministry and message among the Gentiles.

Paul met with the Jewish leaders there and laid out to them “that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles,” which was a message of faith alone apart from the works of the law.

And Titus served to vindicate Paul’s stand on what was required for Gentiles to be saved.

Titus was a saved, regenerated man who was not circumcised, and when compelled to be when he was in Jerusalem, he refused.

We see the strength of character and boldness of Titus in him willingly going to Jerusalem with Paul and Barnabas to take a stand for the truth of his salvation in the midst of the disagreement and controversy, and then refusing to be circumcised while there.

He did not break down under pressure in defending the gospel of grace. And both Paul and Titus stood firmly at this meeting and resisted every effort to bring the Gentiles into bondage and to rob them of their liberty in Christ.

Titus was an example to those leaders in Jerusalem, and to us today, that a change took place in God’s dealings with man. Because coming through Israel, circumcision, keeping the law was required for acceptance with God and salvation in previous dispensations.

But now this Gentile, Titus, though he wasn’t circumcised, he was saved, saved by the grace of God through faith alone in Christ, apart from the law and apart from Israel.

Titus demonstrates the truth of Romans 3:28: “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”

The result of this meeting in Jerusalem was that James, Peter, and John acknowledged Paul’s gospel of grace and ministry among the Gentiles that he received from the Lord, and a decree was issued from them that the Gentiles were free from the law, not obligated to keep the law and the ordinances associated with it to be saved.

And we, Gentiles, and all people, are saved from all our sins just like Titus today, by grace through faith in Christ, not of works, apart from the law. Salvation and eternal life is a free gift, received by faith alone.

2 Corinthians 2:12-13: “Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord, I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia.”

On Paul’s third missionary journey, Paul wrote 1 Corinthians during his 2 to 3 year stay in Ephesus. Following a riot in Ephesus, Paul left the city and as verse 12 reads here, Paul went to Troas.

Paul went to Troas because he hoped to meet Titus there. Paul had sent Titus to Corinth to get a report on how the church had responded to 1 Corinthians and to his stern rebukes and correction contained in that letter.

But like going to Jerusalem in the midst of that controversy, sending Titus to Corinth after Paul’s letter was sent to them dealing firmly with their misconduct and immorality was no easy task either. But Paul knew that Titus was up to this difficult task.

Paul had left Ephesus to meet up with Titus. It seems clear that he had planned to rendezvous with Titus at Troas to be apprised of the situation with the Corinthians.

Arriving in Troas, Paul found “a door was opened unto me of the Lord,” a divinely prepared opportunity to preach the gospel. Paul did take advantage of this open door for a short time and he evangelized and preached the gospel. We know this because the next time Paul came through Troas, there were believers meeting on Sundays.

But Paul didn’t stay long in Troas because, as he wrote, “I had no rest in my spirit.” Not finding Titus in Troas, awaiting his report anxiously, concerned about Titus’s safety, Paul’s heart was distracted and heavy.

Paul’s concern for the problems in the Corinthian church and how its members were responding to those problems and his instructions caused him nearly unbearable restlessness and anxiety. And Paul was unable to give full attention to the ministry in Troas. He couldn’t focus on it. He was present in body, but absent in mind.

So, Paul, not able to wait any longer, left Troas and he traveled across the Aegean Sea to Macedonia hoping to find and run into Titus as Titus was making his way to Troas.

2 Corinthians 7:5-7: “For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.

“Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus.

“And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.”

After leaving Troas and coming to Macedonia in search of Titus, nothing changed. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 2 that he “had no rest” in his spirit in Troas and now in Macedonia he still had “no rest.” He was still restless because he did not find Titus right away.

On top of that, he was “troubled on every side,” and “without were fightings,” as he faced persecution and opposition in Macedonia, as the unbelieving there were applying great pressure on him to drive him out of their territory.

Paul had these outer stresses and conflict, and “within were fears,” as he was beset still with fears because he had not yet made contact with Titus. This all led Paul to be “cast down,” or downcast and downhearted.

But as this epistle began, reminding us that God is “the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation” so Paul wrote that the God Who “comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus.”

It’s encouraging to know that God knows when we are downcast and comforts those who are, and that relief in these times comes through God and our relationship with Him.

As one author put it, “After Paul sank waist-deep in fears and neck-deep in depression, God drove away the floodwaters of distress and provided comfort.”

The coming of Titus brought joy to Paul’s heart. The apostle experienced the truth of Proverbs 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.”

How they connected and met up we don’t know. They didn’t even have cell phones!

But we can only imagine how joyful the reunion was between these two servants of Christ. I imagine them embracing and Paul’s questions just tumbling out one on top of the other, and Titus trying to answer all his questions as quickly as possible.

It was not only the joyful meetings with his friend that made Paul so glad, it was the report Titus gave him that caused Paul to rejoice so greatly. He was downcast no more!

Titus consoled Paul by the comfort Titus had found in the Corinthians through the work that God was doing in them.

The report from Titus was that the Corinthians were setting things right in the Church, and that they had an earnest desire and longing to see Paul and to please him.

They were mournful and grieved over the breach in their relationship with Paul. And they had a fervent mind or zeal to restore their relationship with him and make things right.

2 Corinthians 7:13-15: “Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all. For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth.

“And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.”

Because his letter and instructions had the desired effect and they responded well, Paul was comforted. In addition, he was encouraged by the “joy of Titus.”

We learn something about Titus here in how he was a servant whose Christian character caused him to rejoice as he witnessed signs of submission, spiritual restoration, obedience and growth in Christ. Titus was a joyful man, and the Corinthians brought him joy and refreshed him by their change of heart and mind.

Titus found joy in things that matter to God. And the spiritual growth and transformation of God’s people into greater Christ-likeness by the Word matters to Him.

When you read through the Bible, it’s a common occurrence to see God’s servants rejoice when God’s people are obedient and then to see how they are burdened and distraught when God’s people disobey. Moses often felt like giving up because the Israelites were rebellious. Jeremiah wept bitterly over the hardness of heart of God’s people.

And you see this godly quality in Paul and Titus, in how they were distraught at the disobedience and misconduct of the Corinthians, but then they rejoiced greatly and were comforted when the Corinthians had a change of heart and obeyed the Lord’s will.

In verse 14, Paul wrote of how he had boasted in the Corinthians to Titus before he went to Corinth, confident that they would’ve responded well to Paul’s letter and instruction and that he was sure that they would receive him well when he came to them.

But Titus did not know what kind of a reception he would get when he reached Corinth. He hoped for the best and braced for the worst. And when he did arrive, Paul’s boasting was “found a truth,” as the Corinthians welcomed him and treated him with respect.

And not only this, they endeared themselves to Titus and he had been refreshed spiritually by them and he grew in his affection toward them.

He loved them more than ever because of their obedience to Paul’s correction and zeal to carry out his directives, which was God’s will for this local assembly.

And their obedience and submission was also manifested in the God-fearing way they treated Titus throughout his visit, as they received him with respect and honor.

Titus was a key player here in bringing harmony between the Corinthian church and the Apostle Paul. Titus was a tough-minded servant of strong character, capable of tackling the difficult tasks of ministry, and he was also a man who lovingly brought comfort to others and helped to bring unity between believers.

2 Corinthians 8:6-7,16-17: “Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also. Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also…

“But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you. For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you.”

Titus had gone to Corinth to get a report on the state of the church after they received Paul’s first letter.

Now after meeting up with Paul and giving him the good news, Titus was sent back ahead of Paul to the Corinthians with another letter, this letter of 2 Corinthians.

In these verses we learn that when Titus had first visited the Corinthians, he had reminded them of the matter of a collection with them.

Now that he came back with this letter, he was instructed to see that they followed through on their good intentions and to oversee the collection of the offering.

Writing from Ephesus earlier on his third apostolic journey, Paul had written these saints in 1 Corinthians 16, urging them, “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye…And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.”

Paul is still on his third apostolic journey here as he wrote 2 Corinthians and is still on his way to Corinth to receive a collection from them for the poor saints in Jerusalem.

Paul challenged the Corinthians in this chapter to imitate the sacrificial example of “the churches of Macedonia; How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.”

And then Titus was sent to challenge them to live up to their pledge of money, or as Paul wrote, “so he would also finish in you the same grace also.”

The Corinthians may have intended to give, thought about giving, been favorable to the idea of giving, but Titus was sent to help them finish and complete this grace. This was no easy task either!

A teacher said to her student, Billy, “If you have two dollars, and you ask your father for four dollars, how many dollars will you have.” Billy answered, “Two dollars.” The teacher said, “Billy, you don’t know your math.” And Billy responded, “You don’t know my father.”

The Corinthians were more like this father than they were the churches in Macedonia, who gave liberally, so it wasn’t easy for Titus to get this collection from them.

Paul explained Titus’s commission in verse 6, and then to encourage their giving, Paul commended the church in verse 7 in how they abounded in their faith, utterance, knowledge, diligence, and love, and now Paul wanted them to excel in the matter of giving.

In verses 16 and 17, we see more of the heart of Titus. Each successive reference in 2 Corinthians enhances the noble character of Titus. Paul gave thanks to God for this co-worker.

Paul was thankful that Titus had “the same earnest care” for the Corinthians as Paul had. He found a kindred spirit in this fellow-worker. Titus truly cared for these saints. He was genuinely concerned about the welfare of those he served. He had a heart for ministry.

Later in this letter, again showing the like-mindedness they had in ministry and the same genuine care for the Corinthian church, Paul wrote, “Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?” (2 Cor. 12:18).

And Titus also had the same earnest care for this project as Paul had for this collection from the Corinthians to help the saints in Jerusalem.

And when Paul exhorted Titus to go to Corinth to make this appeal for the collection, the exhortation was not necessary. Titus volunteered to go. He wanted to go of his own accord.

What Paul was asking of the Corinthians in terms of spontaneous loving concern for people in need, is reflected in the attitude of Titus toward them.

Later in this chapter, Paul again commended Titus and reassured any who might question him and the others with him who came to oversee the collection, writing, “Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you.”

Titus was Paul’s close companion and fellow laborer among the Corinthians. He partnered with Paul and they helped one another in the ministry. Titus was a trustworthy colleague, and together, Paul and Titus accomplished much for the glory of God.

Titus 1:4-5: “To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.

“For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee.”

The grace of God creates relationships of a very near and tender kind, so that Paul could call Titus “mine own son.”

And Paul was a Jew and Titus a Gentile, and yet they were one in a “common faith.” This “faith” is the body of truth which reveals the joining of Jew and Gentile in one Body by the Cross. This common faith is the gospel of the grace of God revealed to Paul, under which both of these men were saved by faith alone.

And by this common faith Paul and Titus had the same Savior and the same indwelling Holy Spirit. And this common faith gave them a common hope of eternal life and heaven.

Titus was written in between Paul’s first and second Roman imprisonments. His first imprisonment, which is referenced in Acts chapter 28, ended in Paul being released. His second Roman imprisonment, when he wrote 2 Timothy, ended in Paul’s death.

In that interim period, Paul did what he always did: he moved around telling people this good news of the gospel of grace that Christ died for our sins and rose again.

And one of the places he went was Crete. Crete was one of the largest islands in the Mediterranean Sea, located SE of Greece. Paul briefly first visited Crete on his voyage to Rome as a prisoner.

Paul returned there for ministry with Titus during the time he was at liberty between his first and second Roman imprisonments. After ministering there together for a time, they reached souls for Christ and churches were planted in multiple cities throughout Crete.

After a time, Paul left Titus to continue the work, while he went on to Nicopolis in Greece.

He left Titus behind to see that these newly formed churches were remaining on solid ground by sound doctrine and setting a straight course through good leadership.

Titus was given tasks suited to his personality. He stood his ground in Jerusalem and dealt with various difficult issues in Corinth, and ministering on Crete without Paul was a tough assignment as well.

Paul wrote of the Cretians, “One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies” (Titus 1:12).

In his letter to him, because Titus was made of tougher stuff, Paul’s tone of his address to Titus was less tender and more direct, like an army general might address a subordinate.

Paul directed him to “set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee” in the assemblies throughout Crete. Paul told him to deal with the “unruly and vain talkers and deceivers” and to stop their mouths.

And concerning the Cretians who were liars and lazy gluttons, Paul exhorted Titus to “rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith.”

And of the grace of God that Titus needed to make known in Crete, Paul challenged him: “These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority.”

But Titus was bold like a lion, and Paul knew he had the moral courage and resolve to carry out these difficult instructions.

In 2 Timothy 4:10, Paul wrote: “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.”

This is the last reference to Titus in Scripture, written by Paul shortly before his death.

Paul wrote that Titus was in Dalmatia. Thus, we learn that Titus left Crete. Paul wrote Titus in Titus 3:12 to “be diligent to come unto me to Nicopolis.”

Nicopolis was in western Greece. Dalmatia was a district further north up the coast along the Adriatic Sea above Macedonia.

Titus likely went to Nicopolis. Then either he went further north to Dalmatia of his own accord or he was sent there by Paul. But we can’t say for sure. It’s also very possible that Paul was re-arrested in Nicopolis and taken to Rome.

Because there is no criticism or negative inference of defection, as there is with Demas in this verse, we can assume that Titus was there for noble reasons and was serving the Lord.

It’s said that “Dalmatia was a wild country with a rather tempestuous populace.” So again, and not surprisingly, we find Titus taking on another difficult assignment.

Titus is still esteemed on Crete, and in one ancient writing there was recorded a good testimony of his life, and it’s one to imitate in our own lives:

“Titus laid the foundation of the Church in Crete, was himself there the pillar of the truth and the strong support of the faith, the unwearied trumpet of the proclamation of the gospel, and the clear utterance of the tongue of Saint Paul.”